I’ve been searching for new cafes to try and blog about. The list is a lot longer than I thought it would be. I finally checked maman, one of the company’s newest cafes, in Bethesda, MD. Since this visit, they’ve also opened two new locations: Georgetown and Union Market.
maman is one of the prettiest cafes in the area, and their menu items are just as nice. It’s a French cafe founded and owned by Elisa Marshall and Ben Sormonte. They were inspired by moments in the kitchen during their childhoods and named it to honor their mothers. “Maman” means mother in French.
Note: maman is wheelchair accessible.
WHAT I ORDERED
maman offers hot drinks, iced drinks, sweets, bottled drinks, and juices. They have standard options like the cortado and the macchiato, but the specialty drinks are what got me. The specialty drinks (some seasonal) include Banana Split Iced Coffee, Iced Watermelon Matcha, and Coconut Mint Lemonade. It was hard to narrow it down, which means I need to visit again. I chose the Iced Honey Lavender Latte and the Normandy Apple Tart.
Honey Lavender Latte
The Honey Lavender Latte is made with three shots of espresso, paired with homemade honey lavender syrup, and served iced with your choice of milk. The milk options were skim milk, whole milk, soy milk, oat milk, pistachio milk, half and half, coconut milk, and almond milk (regular and unsweetened). I ordered mine with whole milk.
Floral coffee drinks are a recent favorite of mine and this Iced Honey Lavender Latte has been added to my list. It’s easy for floral flavors to be too much, but this one isn’t like that at all. The lavender and honey worked so well with the espresso. I never thought of adding honey to lavender and can’t wait to have this flavor combo again.
Normandy Apple Tart
I was so intrigued by the Normandy Apple Tart because its texture made me think of croissants. I had never seen a tart that looked like this one. The Normandy Tart is a brioche pastry made with caramelized apples and warm spices.
The Normandy Apple Tart was one of the most delectable pastries I’ve ever had. It was flaky and soft. The apples tasted so fresh. I loved that the spices had some shine without being overpowering. This pastry is one I would order again. I wish I ordered another one to go.
CONCLUSION
I loved that maman feels like a cute, rustic cafe nestled in Bethesda. The staff was helpful and welcoming. It feels like the perfect place to get some coffee with a friend during the week. I enjoyed the food and am still thinking about the Normandy Apple Tart weeks later. The next time you’re in Bethesda craving coffee or a pastry, check out maman!
7140 Bethesda Ln., Bethesda, MD 20814 (and two Washington, D.C. locations)
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Until next time.
Foodish Ways 